Method for remote controlling of www-browser

Abstract

A method for remote controlling a www-browser, whereby a user is operating with an HTTP-server at his/her disposal by using his/her own www-browser for browsing various sources accessible over a communication network for documents, such that one or more clients in communication with the server have their browsers updated to display each document chosen by the user with his/her browser to be displayed. When the document chosen includes a hypertext document, indicated particularly by a URL-address, instead of an actual server response containing the URL-address, the user's browser is supplied with output from a separate script in communication with the user's server and operating as a filter. The output is externally equivalent to the desired hypertext document identified by the URL-address given to the filter script as a parameter, such that following a hypertext link included therein results in a request for the filter script with an address contained in the hypertext link as its parameter.

1 . A method for remote controlling a www-browser, whereby a user is operating an HTTP-server at his/her disposal by using his/her own www-browser for browsing various sources accessible over the Internet, intranet or similar communications network for documents of his/her choice, such that one or more clients in communication with the server have their browsers updated to display each document chosen in various ways by the user with his/her browser to be displayed, wherein whereby using solely standardized Internet protocols to control one or more clients' browsers, said browsers being without additionals, by a www-browser, a user and his/her client or clients, in case the user so permits, are equally operating with an HTTP-server at his/her/their disposal by using his/her/their own www-browser/browsers for browsing various sources accessible over Internet, intranet or similar communications network for documents of his/her choice, such that the user and the client/clients in communication with the server have his/her/their browser/browsers updated actively by themselves to display each document chosen by the user with his/her browser, so that, when the document chosen to be displayed comprises a hypertext document, such as an html-page or the like, indicated particularly by a URL-address, instead of an actual server response containing the discussed URL-address, the user's browser is supplied with an output (ss(x)) or a handler, from separate script in communication with the user's server, invoked by referring to the user's server by a specially allocated domain name, operating as a filter, said output being a response externally equivalent to the desired hypertext document identified by the URL-address or by said address and additional retrieval information given to the filter script as a parameter, such that the following of hypertext links, or submitting forms or in some other way transiting to another page results in a request for the filter script by using as its parameter an address contained in the discussed hypertext link or in some other retrieval information.  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after the filter script has been supplied with a desired URL-address as a parameter, a hypertext document indicated by the discussed address is first retrieved for processing, whereafter the filter script is used to replace hypertext links a appearing in the document with links which define a request for the filter script with the discussed hypertext link allocated as an argument therefor, and/or relative references, such as URL-addresses, present in picture elements, cascading style sheets, and/or the like, are converted into absolute references.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein when a document depends on a given parameter, such as a cookie, user identification data, values of hidden fields on a form, and/or the like, the filter script is used to retrieve the original document from a server containing it by giving it the discussed parameter as a parameter for an http-request retrieving the discussed document and by storing this document, after screening it for clients to make it externally equivalent to the original document, in a database or the like, the browser of one or more clients being directed to display it therefrom.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the filter script is used in the first place to process forms embedded in a desired hypertext document, such that the handler defined therein is replaced with a handler supplied with information of the form, and secondly the original information is embedded as hidden fields in the filtered form.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is used to enable disconnecting the linkage of one or more clients' browser to the user's browser, especially for making sure that the display of each client's www-browser is in all instances only supplied with controlled documentation.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is used to enable the user to keep open a plurality of browsing windows in the process of browsing documentation and to move from window to window in such a way that each client is always provided with a view of the page which the user has in an active window at that time.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scripts present in hypertext documents to be browsed are filtered in such a way that all references to various objects containing information of a www-browser are replaced with references to an object, which is created by a script embedded in a processed page by the filter script.  
   
   
       8 . A The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scripts embedded in www-pages subject to browsing are allowed to have e.g. the following capabilities of: 
 opening new browsing windows,    executing minor graphic details, such as replacing a picture with other upon placing the mouse on top of it, and    automatically checking information presented in forms.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the scripts emedded in www-pages subject to browsing are disallowed to have e.g. the following capabilities of: 
 executing an arbitrary code (eval, etc.),    sending arbitrary HTTP-requests to a source server, and    functions relating to the script variables of a window that has opened the script-containing window.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein operation of the user interface involved in utilization of the method enables one or more clients to serve as an active operator supplying documents to other participants.